Champions League 2017/18 – Final

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Real Madrid v Liverpool

Sunday May 27, 4:45am AEST

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While on paper Real would seem strong favourites as they aim for a fourth Champions League title in five seasons, they’ve hardly produced vintage football this season with a heavy reliance on moments of individual brilliance – and it showed in the league standings with an eventual 17 point deficit between themselves and arch rivals Barca. In Ronaldo they have the man for the big occasion, but the Portuguese can’t do everything himself and given the strength of Liverpool’s front three, Los Blancos will likely need to find the net multiple times. Indeed, Klopp’s charges have plundered an incredible 37 goals in their last 10 outings in Europe, while Zidane’s rearguard have conceded at least twice in four of their last five across all competitions in the build up to the big day.

Over 3.5 Goals looks a solid play given six of Real’s last nine in this competition have gone over that mark, as have eight of Liverpool’s 14 games in Europe this term, while the final has seen both teams find the net in each of the past seven seasons. Liverpool are unlikely to waste as many chances as Bayern managed across the two legs of their semi-final, and will undoubtedly seek to punish any space left behind Marcelo down Real’s left flank.

Joshua Kimmich managed to find the net in both legs via that route, and Ramos is likely to struggle for pace if he ends up in a foot race with Salah on the cover. The Egyptian’s battle with the marauding left-back could be key to settling this tie, and at the prices the Reds look good value to end Real’s European hegemony.

Betting Strategy

BACK – Over 3.5 Goals at 2.16

BACK – Liverpool to lift the trophy at 2.29

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